CASE Near this are roots of Shobu (Acorus calamus^ var. spurlus, 

 7/). Engel., and Sekisho {A. gramineus^ Ait.), both used in 

 medicine in Japan. 



No. 152. Calamus Root or Sweet Flag {Acorns Cala- 

 mus, I'.). A widely distributed marsh plant growing in Europe, 

 Asia, and America. The creeping-root, or rhizome, is warm and 

 aromatic, and the whole plant has a strong, sweet, aromatic 

 smell, in consequence of which the leaves were used, until 

 recently, to strew the floor of Norwich Cathedral on festivals. 



The rhizome is sometimes candied with sugar, and used at- a 

 sweetmeat. jut ,tnK(<{ r?f:jl>n! 



Water Plantain Order (A llwiacea^). A small group 



of marsh or aquatic plants found in nearly all climates. They 

 are unimportant from an economic point of view. 



The roots of Allsma Plantago, L., a British plant, but 

 widely distributed in the Arctic and Northern temperate 

 regions, as well as in India and Australia, contain a quantity 

 of farinaceous matter, the acrid properties of which are dispelled 

 by drying so that the roots are eaten by the Kalmucks. They 

 are also used in medicine in Japan, under the name of Saji 

 Omodaka. 



Grass Wrack Order {Naiadacerr), Submerged fresh 

 or salt water plants, found in most parts of the world. They 

 arc of little or no economic value. 



Observe librous residue of leaves of l^osidoiua Caulinii^ 

 Koenig, rolled into balls by the action of the water, found 

 on the shore at Tunis and at Cannes, South of Francs, Note, 

 also, balls similarly formed of P. australis, Hook, f., from 

 Australia. 



On the bottom shelf note specimens of Alva or Ulva 

 Marina, known also as Grass Wrack (Zostera marina, L.). 

 It is common on the British Coast and in most parts of the 

 world, near low- water mark. The leaves when dried are used 

 for packing and for stuffing mattresses. 

 XABLE I" Table Case immediately opposite, observe mounted speci- 

 CASE. inen and drawing of the plant of the Lattice-lea*^ ' of 

 Madagascar, Aponogeton fenestrale, Hook. f. (Ouvirandra 

 fenestralis, Poir.). The plant is singular from the interstices 

 between the veins of the leaf being open, as shown by the 

 mounted leaves, hence its name of Lattice leaf. The fleshy 

 root is farinaceous, resembling the yam, and is eaten when 

 cooked by the people of Madagascar. 



